Data vs Information

Data  Vs  Information

The terms data and information are key concepts in understanding the importance of computerized databases.

Data

  "Data is a collection of raw, unorganized (unprocessed) contents of words, numbers, sounds, or images."

Information

"The Processed form of data that has special meaning is known as information."

    Data associated with other useful data on the topic becomes information. 

The ability to associate or organize stored data in a variety of meaningful ways represents the power of database software. 

For example

    An insurance company might store ZIP code information in its database, but a ZIP code alone is not particularly useful. However, when the ZIP code is associated with other data such as a name, address, or phone number, this set of organized data become information that can be used to locate and identify a  customer